One person was killed and another injured in an avalanche at a Tahoe ski resort Wednesday, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the resort, at 9:30 a.m. an avalanche struck on the Palisades side of the mountain — specifically on steep slopes under the KT-22 lift, which serves “black diamond” runs for skilled skiers and snowboarders.
Multiple agencies responded on a search and rescue operation. According to the sheriff’s office, no other missing persons have been reported, and the mountain will be closed for the rest of the day.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced it was “monitoring” the incident and that Cal Fire would be coordinating to provide resources and personnel.
An avalanche in the area in 2020 killed a skier and injured another. In 2018 five people were hit by an avalanche and two were hospitalized, and a ski patroller was killed in 2017.
Palisades is also near the site where seven people were killed in an avalanche in 1982.
On Wednesday morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center rated the possibility of avalanches in the area as “considerable,” extending the warning through Thursday morning.
“A strong winter storm will enter our area today bringing high intensity snowfall and gale force winds,” the group’s morning warning reads. “Avalanche danger will quickly increase today with avalanches occurring in a variety of areas by this afternoon. A period of high avalanche danger may occur in the early evening hours.”
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of the eastern Sierra through 1 a.m. on Thursday, warning of travel that could be “very difficult to impossible” due to forecasted heavy snowfall and gusty winds.
“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the alert reads.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
